Early Thursday morning, the Kenya Airways flight KQ203 carrying the remains of Kenya’s former Prime Minister Raila Odinga upon entering the country’s airspace had its call sign changed to RAO001.
The change of the call sign was a gesture by the airline to honour the fallen political icon who died on Wednesday morning.
“We were deeply honoured to bring home the late Rt. Hon Raila Amolo Odinga, on his final journey, call sign RAO001,” said the flag carrier in a statement.
“As the national airline, it was a solemn duty, carried out wit utmost dignity and respect befitting a leader so deeply cherished.”
Kenya’s private sector has hailed the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for his instrumental role in creating platform linking government and industry to address challenges to economic growth.
Raila Odinga has been credited for establishing the Prime Minister’s Roundtable with the private sector in 2010 during his tenure as Prime Minister between 2008 and 2013.
According to the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, the high-level platform helped to directly address bottlenecks and shaping policy for a better investment climate.
“Now known as the KEPSA Prime Minister’s Roundtable, this pioneering initiative significantly contributed to improving the ease of doing business and remains a foundational component of public-private engagement in Kenya today,” said the alliance in a statement.
The Kenya Association of Manufacturer (KAM) similarly paid its tribute to the late Odinga, calling him a champion of the country’s manufacturing sector growth.
“As Kenya’s Minister of Roads, Public Works and Housing, Rt. Hon. Raila was instrumental in the construction and the rehabilitation of key roads that greatly improved access to raw materials and enhanced market access for Kenya’s manufacturing sector,” said KAM on their X handle.
Former African Development Bank President Dr Akinwumi Adesina hailed Raila for his resilience in advancing democracy and for being a pan-Africanist.
“Kenya will miss his visionary, empowering and charismatic leadership. Africa will miss his inspiring gallantry, dauntlessness and un-cowed voice,” said Dr Adesina on X.
The late former prime minister will be burried at his Bondo home later on Sunday, October 19, 2025.
